2012 ROOSTER REPORTS

[Arago]

Kind of makes ya spoiled! Like skiing out west then coming back here to Afton Alps!

[grey ghost]

Been out each of the last 3 days and saw lots of hens. Only saw 2 roosters and they got up together. They were pointed by 1 of my weims and backed by the other. That's a sweet sight! I got 1 and swung to the other and couldn't tell what it was because the sun was behind it so I let it go...as i brought my gun down it cackled at me!

[fishuhalik]

Haven't been out in MN this year, but there are pockets of great numbers in NW NoDak. I have the privilege of driving thousands of miles off road every month driving to different oil sites, so I get to scout for free. A few days ago we saw at least 200 birds. A lot were on posted land but there were plenty of birds on open land. A lot of sharpies up by the Crosby area too. Nice to be able to get a little more shooting after your pheasant bag is full.

[CodyDawg]

So how did it end up for you? I had a very good season, 18 birds shot in Minnesota (only 1 prior to the middle of November due to elk and deer seasons). Given the luke warm expectations, I felt this was a very good year. Our 2 best places produced 45 roosters this year which was a very solid year. I was happy to get my kids out and some friends that I havent hunted with out for some good shooting as well. Pretty darn good year hunting roosters if you ask me. The year got better as it went along, the last 3 times out we did really well.

[MN Shutterbug]

as i brought my gun down it cackled at me!

You sure it wasn't laughing at you.

[Arago]

18 roosters! That's pretty darned good! May I ask, public or private land?

[Gordie]

I drive about a hundred miles a day, the back roads to Pine city from Zimmerman and this past fall I counted more roosters than I have ever seen and one day before Christmas I counted over a 100 birds combined they were flocked up as a storm was approaching but I have seen many roosters this past fall. Defiantly more roosters than hens this year.

[CodyDawg]

Arago,

That was private land that we work very hard on the habitat. When others are playing at the lake in July, we are spraying thistles in the grass plantings, etc. the majority of the birds i shot came off of the 2 spots we really work on. one is 70 acreas and it produced 25 roosters in the bag this year (total of all the people who hunted it). The other is 140 acres and produced 20. I expect better next year if we dont get too bad of a winter...although we have good winter cover. it really is a tribute to what good habitat can do for the birds. Just amazing.

[Arago]

CodyDawg, That is fantastic. I'm happy to hear your hard work is paying off. While I have been a member of phesants forever for years I have nor physically worked on habitat. It just goes to show you that's what it all boils down to! Good job! And you enjoy the fruits of your efforts as well.

[CodyDawg]

Pheasants Forever has provided help on our habitat. Get involved! Contact PF and find out when your local chapter meets and meet some new guys who are enjoy hunting birds!

[Jmnhunter]

we hunted WNW of mitchell the weekend before new years to years day; 3 of us on family's private land, 3 days hunting 5 birds out of 8 in range. it was sad to see the CRP we used to hunt near the farm, 1/2 was hayed, other half was still in great condition, although expired contract, but not 1 single track in there; first time in 12+ plus years we havent flushed a bird out of that field. then we hunted another 1/2 section of CRP that had the birds. they were holding tight despite being hunted all season. we tried a WPA north of the farm, never flushed a bird there.

It was still a great time, dog worked great and made some awesome retrieves along with flushing. hes getting better for not chasing nonshot roosters or flushed hens on the recall.

We also read an article from the Mitchell Republic, front page, explaining how SD is going to be the next IA...

[Musky Buck]

What does this rainy weather mean for pheasant,grouse, etc. ? Likely not what the doctor ordered, so the new question can be 2013 pheasant reports ? Rain followed up by sub zero temps..........crusted cover.....hope for the best.

[CodyDawg]

This year was really a testament to good habitat. The places that had good habitat had good bird numbers. the places that didnt were decimated by the winter of '10/'11 and didnt recover.

I believe that is what you will see with this ice storm. A hen buried in good cover with available food will have no issues. A hen trying to get by on marginal cover took a beating. She is losing precious energy to the efforts of staying warm. She is exposed longer while looking for food. Remember, the marginal habitat area went into the winter with fewer birds and will leave the winter with a higher percentage of dead birds. It is a double shot to the chin of pheasant survival.

[fishuhalik]

Man I hope these pheasants have a good winter!!! Found the motherload in the last 3 weeks of the season. Last 4 times out after we found em we were flushing 100-150 birds an hour, just unreal. Last day we hunted I bet we flushed 600+ birds in 4 hrs. The big coveys of 75+ were jumpy, and we were hunting without dogs in HEAVY cover so who knows how many birds we walked right past. Still got our limits every day, with one 5 man limit coming in 2 hrs mid-December. Total tally for this fall was 48 roosters & 6 sharpies. November can't come soon enough!!

[Arago]

Were you in the Dakotas? Couldn't have been Minnesota!